Hardy's Women: Two on a Tower - a podcast by BBC Radio 4

During 2021 on Radio 4, Hardy’s Women takes a fresh look at the novels of Thomas Hardy, through the eyes of some of his female protagonists.

Two On A Tower

Adapted by Anita Sullivan

Viviette Constantine is isolated, trapped in a small village in England in the 1880’s. Her husband Sir Blount Constantine is brutal, but thankfully he has been away hunting lions for several years. Out walking one day, she meets Swithin, a beautiful kind young astronomer who shows her the stars, and when her husband is reported dead, finally their love can take its natural course.

Hardy's scandalised his contemporary readers with this love story across age, class and legal barriers, settting "the emotional history of two infinitesimal lives against the stupendous background of the stellar universe."

Tragically the stars, and their society are not aligned.

CAST

Lady Viviette Constantine - Olivia Poulet

Swithin St Cleeve - Callum Scott Howells

Louis Glanville - Tommy Sim’aan

Tabitha Lark - Scarlett Courtney

Bishop Helmsdale and Mr Cecil - Tony Turner

Parson Torkingham - Keiron Self

Haymoss and Sir Blount - Marc Danbury

Mrs Martin and Mrs Poulter - Jane Slavin

Directed by John Norton

A BBC Cymru Wales production

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